BUSAN — The city of Busan has finalized three recipients of its Young World Class Talent Program, a flagship initiative to develop young talent into global leaders, and will begin full-scale support. The city plans to provide up to 100 million won ($72,000) per person over three years in capacity-building funds, aiming to keep young residents from leaving the region and to create globally competitive intellectual property from Busan.
Busan said on the 27th that it had selected Noh Hyun-ji in visual art, Lee Dong-yoon in literature and Heo Seok-min in theater as the final recipients for the 2026 Young World Class Talent Program.
The program identifies young people with growth potential and supports them with specialized training, overseas study, international exchange, content development and entry into foreign markets. Each selected participant receives up to 100 million won in capacity-building funds over three years — 20 million won in the first year, 50 million won in the second and 30 million won in the third.
This year's open call drew 133 applicants. The city narrowed the field to 17 through a document review, then to six in a presentation round. The final three were chosen in a public evaluation that combined scores from six experts and a 24-member citizen review panel. The city said adding public input to expert evaluation improved the transparency and objectivity of the selection process.
Noh is an illustrator who has depicted Busan's landscapes and the daily lives of its residents. Her work includes a Busan gift card featuring Gwangalli Beach, along with souvenirs and posters for public institutions, translating the city into visual content. She plans to develop Busan-themed visual art content drawing on the city's beaches, harbors and seasonal scenery.
Lee, selected in literature, is a writer and story IP planner who turns local narratives into content and business value. A former reporter at a local daily, he has launched a newsletter and worked on a feature-length documentary about the Lotte Giants and the Bu-Ma Democratic Uprising. Drawing on awards from a spring literary contest and a maritime literature prize, he intends to develop Busan's scattered stories into global IP.
Heo, selected in theater, is a Busan-based director and playwright. He founded the theater company Warm People and has won the Young Theater Artist Award at the Korea Theater Awards and the top production prize at the Busan Theater Festival. Building on invitations to the Sibiu International Theatre Festival in Romania and the Avignon Off Festival in France, he plans to expand overseas distribution and co-production networks.
The city says the funds will go toward capacity development tailored to each recipient's growth goals rather than serving as basic living expenses. Support covers specialized training, residencies at overseas institutions, international networking, content and prototype development, and expansion into foreign markets. The city also plans to extend the results to the local arts ecosystem and to the development of younger talent.
"One young person's challenge is a force that widens a city's possibilities, not just their own growth," said Kim Gwi-ok, director general of the city's Youth and Industry-Academia Bureau. "We will build an environment where young people who develop their skills in Busan can take on stages across the country and around the world."
